Steelers release Colon, add quarterback

Willie Colon, who couldn't get on the field much because of injuries, is leaving the Steelers. Bruce Gradkowski, who hasn't gotten on the field much with four other teams, is joining them.

Rashard Mendenhall? He joins Mike Wallace on the list of former Steelers.

The Steelers added another hometown quarterback Wednesday in Gradkowski, a former Seton-La Salle star who has bounced around the NFL since once being a Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft pick in 2006. He agreed to a three-year contract.

Gradkowski is expected to replace former backup Byron Leftwich, who had a succession of injuries while with the Steelers and will not be brought back.

The Steelers also released Colon, their starting left guard for much of last season. The move is expected to be designated as a June 1 transaction, which will allow them to clear $5.5 million of salary cap space this season but adds $4.3 million of dead money to their 2014 cap.

Colon played well for the Steelers when he could get on the field, but that wasn't often. He missed the entire 2010 season with an Achilles' injury and all but one game of 2011 with a torn triceps. He sat out the final six games of last season with a knee injury.

Colon was a fourth-round pick in 2006 who ended up playing in 63 games over seven seasons. By cutting starters James Harrison and Colon, the Steelers cleared $10.1 million of salary cap room.

Mendenhall, the former first-round draft pick and 1,000-yard rusher who fell into disfavor with the Steelers after skipping a game last season, agreed to a one-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals. He rejoins former Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, now the Arizona head coach.

Mendenhall's final season with Pittsburgh was shortened by knee injury rehabilitation and a one-game suspension for leaving the stadium after being told he was deactivated for a December game. He finished with only 182 yards.

Mendenhall became the second Steelers starter to depart in as many days, joining Wallace, who agreed to a $60 million contract with the Dolphins on Tuesday.

Cornerback Keenan Lewis, also an unrestricted free agent, posted on Twitter that he was meeting Wednesday with his hometown New Orleans Saints. Lewis is believed to be asking for money far and above what the Steelers can afford to pay.

With Gradkowski now added, the question is whether the Steelers will have a pair of local backup quarterbacks. Charlie Batch, the former Steel Valley star who has been on their roster for a dozen years, is not signed for 2013.

The Steelers probably would prefer to have at least one young backup quarterback, but that might depend whether they believe can afford to use a draft pick on one in April.

The Steelers will be Gradkowski's fifth team since he broke into the NFL in 2006 from Toledo and his third in the AFC North. He played previously for the Browns and Bengals.

The 30-year-old Gradkowski played sparingly with the Raiders and Bengals the last two seasons, throwing only 29 passes and one touchdown pass.

One of Gradkowski's most memorable performances came in 2009, when he threw three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to lead the Raiders to a 27-24 upset of the Steelers at Heinz Field. That major upset later cost the reigning Super Bowl champion Steelers a playoff berth.

Those three TD passes in less than a quarter represented half of Gradkowski's season total in 2009.

Gradkowski hasn't started more than four games in any season since he was a rookie and has 21 touchdown passes in seven seasons.

The team also re-signed David Johnson, who plays fullback and tight end, to a one-year contract.

Johnson suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Steelers' preseason opener in 2012. He was waived/injured and after clearing waivers, was placed on the Reserve/Injured List.

Johnson has played in 47 career games with 24 starts. He has 18 receptions for 146 yards and one touchdown. He was originally drafted by the Steelers in the seventh round (241st overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft.